Protesting against scammers
Cambridge has been struck with an array of phishing email and telephone scams but a computer company has some tips on how to beat the online tricksters.
Cambridge company Green Mouse Computing had noticed an increase in phishing activity following calls from customers worried the security of their computers had been compromised.
Cambridge had a population with a median age of 44 compared to the nation’s median of 38.
Green Mouse senior technical consultant Simon Dumble said more older people are heading online to use the internet and it is this age group scammers are targeting.
Dumble said for scammers to send phishing emails they have to know people’s email address first.
‘‘Odds are very good that someone with a lot of contacts in Cambridge has at some point clicked on these emails,’’ Dumble said.
‘‘As soon as these people know that they’ve had a bite, it puts a flag up, and that list of emails becomes more viable to all of the other proprietors of this nasty software.’’
Director of Green Mouse Computing Limited Kerrin O’Regan had some advice to protect against scams.
The first was to use good antivirus software.
‘‘In our view, free is not good enough now. You need proper paid-for software, that’s the first thing,’’ O’Regan said.
The second thing to look out for was how the email started.
He said banks, telephone and internet companies wouldn’t start their emails off with ‘‘dear customer’’ or ‘‘hello’’.
‘‘They’ll say dear Kerrin, because they know who you are.’’
Bad grammar or spelling mistakes could also be a sign of a phishing email.
‘‘English is not generally the first language in Kazakhstan where these are coming from,’’ he said.
‘‘Because if this is generally coming from a major company, they’ll have proof read it and done everything to it.’’
The last tip O’Regan said was to hover over the links with your mouse, as that will show up the real web address.
People should also be on alert as emails had been hacked.
‘‘If it’s from someone you know, but you weren’t expecting it, give them a phone call.
‘‘Say, did you really send this to me? That could save you, a lot of money and grief at the end of the day.’’